Christian Negouai's ill-fated spell at Manchester City has taken another downturn after the midfielder pulled a hamstring in last night's dismal Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal.

Blues boss Kevin Keegan hailed Negouai as one of the best signings he has ever made when he splashed out é1.5million to sign the Martinique-born player from Belgian outfit Charleroi in 2001.

To say the 26-year-old has not lived up to Keegan's lofty expectations would be a supreme understatement.

With injury and general fitness problems limiting him to just eight appearances in three years, the biggest headlines Negouai has made during his time in England was the é2,000 fine he picked up for failing to attend a drugs test, months before Rio Ferdinand was handed an eight-month ban for doing exactly the same thing.

Last night Keegan handed Negouai a spot on the bench for only the second time this season and when Trevor Sinclair was brought off midway through the second half, the City chief decided to give the player a rare opportunity to shine.

Unhappy

Unfortunately, he lasted just 14 minutes before he was limping unhappily back down the tunnel clutching his hamstring and he now looks set for another lengthy stint on the sidelines.

"It never rains but it pours in Manchester," said Keegan.

"He is a big lad and he ran down the touchline, fell over and pulled a muscle.

"Ben Thatcher had an injury but wanted to play. He came over to tell me he couldn't carry on when Christian comes over and tells me he has pulled a hamstring, so I ended up subbing my sub.

"That's the kind of thing that happens in football when you are having a bad night."